Bristol City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 4
BUSINESS DISTRICTS
Sec. Z-401.- B-1A District—Limited business/institutional zone.
This district will accommodate and protect the development and maintenance of certain relatively homogeneous use categories. These categories include medical and related uses, as well as offices and institutions, with some compatible light commercial establishments.
1.
Permitted Uses.[1]
a.
Single-family and two-family residences at R-2 space requirements.
b.
Triplex and quadplex residences at the R-2 space requirements.
c.
44-45 - Retail Trade; limited to:
453 - Miscellaneous Store Retailers; limited to:
Florists (4531).
Office Supplies, Stationary, and Gift Stores (4532).
d.
52 - Finance and Insurance.
e.
53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; limited to:
531 - Real Estate; except for:
Lessors of Mini-warehouses and self-storage units (53113).
f.
54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; except for:
541 - Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
Veterinary Services (54194).
g.
62 - Health Care and Social Assistance; except for:
621 - Ambulatory Health Care Services.
Outpatient Care Centers (6214).
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219).
622 - Hospitals.
623 - Social Assistance.
h.
72 - Accommodation and Food Services; limited to:
722 - Food Services and Drinking Places; limited to:
Full - Service Restaurants (7221).
i.
81 - Other Services (except Public Administration); limited to:
812 - Personal and Laundry Services - limited to:
Personal Care Services (8121).
Drycleaning and Laundry Services; except for:
Linen and Uniform Supply (81233).
Other Personal Services; except for:
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291).
Parking Lots and Garages (81293).
j.
Parking lots for permitted uses.
k.
Signs - as specified in Chapter 2, Section Z-216.
l.
Temporary long-term sales as defined by Chapter 2, Section Z-219.
2.
Uses Permitted by Special Use Permit Only. Same as R-M District.
3.
Space Requirements. (See chart at end of this Chapter.)
4.
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Unloading. Shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 2, Sections Z-213 and Z-214 of this Ordinance.
5.
Other Provisions and Requirements.
a.
Screening of a masonry, evergreen vegetation or other type approved by the Planning Commission or Planning Division Staff may be required around property where it abuts a residential use, residential district, school, park, or public street.
b.
All businesses or services shall be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building, except for automobile parking.
c.
No outdoor music facilities shall be allowed.
Note— Permitted use section terminology reference is the 2002 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
Sec. Z-402. - B-1B District—Neighborhood shopping/office zone.
The B-1B district is to accommodate light commercial and office uses. This district is characteristically located near residential districts and is primarily meant to cater to the everyday needs of a limited residential area.
1.
Permitted Uses.[2]
a.
Single-family and two-family residences at R-2 space requirements.
b.
Triplex and quadplex residences at the R-2 space requirements.
c.
44-45 - Retail Trade; limited to:
442 - Furniture and Home Furnishings Store.
443 - Electronics and Appliance Stores.
445 - Food and Beverage Stores.
446 - Health and Personal Care Stores.
447 - Gasoline Stations.
448 - Clothing and Clothing Accessories Store.
451 - Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores.
453 - Miscellaneous Store Retailers; except for:
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers (45393).
d.
52 - Finance and Insurance.
e.
53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; limited to:
531 - Real Estate; except for:
Lessors of Mini-warehouses and self-storage units (53113).
532 - Rental and Leasing Services; limited to:
Video Tape and Disc Rental (53223).
Other Consumer Goods Rental (53229).
f.
54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; except for:
541 - Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services;
Veterinary Services (54194).
g.
62 - Health Care and Social Assistance; limited to:
621 - Ambulatory Health Care Services; except for:
Outpatient Care Centers (6214).
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219).
624 - Social Assistance; limited to:
Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412).
Child Day Care Services (6244).
h.
72 - Accommodation and Food Services; limited to:
722 - Food Services and Drinking Places; limited to:
Full - Service Restaurants (7221).
i.
81 - Other Services (except Public Administration); limited to:
811 - Repair and Maintenance; limited to:
Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (8112).
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance; limited to:
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair (81143).
Other Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (81149).
812 - Personal and Laundry Services; limited to:
Personal Care Services (8121).
Drycleaning and Laundry Services; except for:
Linen and Uniform Supply (81233).
Other Personal Services; except for:
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291).
Parking Lots and Garages (81293).
813 - Religious, Grant Making, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
j.
Parking lots for permitted uses.
k.
Signs - as specified in Chapter 2, Section Z-216.
2.
Uses Permitted by Special Use Permit Only. Same as in R-M District, private golf, swimming or tennis clubs and automobile sales.
3.
Space Requirements. (See chart at end of this Chapter.)
4.
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Unloading. Shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 2, Section Z-213 and Z-214 of this Ordinance.
(Ord. No. 14-17, 10-2014; Ord. No. 22-17, 12-2022)
Note— Permitted use section terminology reference is the 2002 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
Sec. Z-403. - B-2 District—Central business.
The B-2 district is the designation assigned to the downtown business area and is intended for uses which benefit from a central location, and which provide goods and services used by the entire community and its surrounding area.
1.
Permitted Uses.
a.
441, 8111 - Automobile sales and service.
b.
52 - Banks.
c.
8212 - Barber shops.
d.
8212 - Beauty shops.
e.
6112 - 6117 - Private business or trade schools.
f.
8123 - Coin laundries.
g.
8123 - Dry cleaning and laundry establishments.
h.
621 - Licensed health care facilities.
i.
72 - Hotels; except for 72112 (casino hotels) and 7212 (RV parks).
j.
5121 - Indoor theaters.
k.
31, 32, 33 - Manufacture of articles where operation includes retail sales on premises, employs not more than five operators, and has no outside storage. Examples include, but are not limited to: bakeries, frame shops, candy shops and custom jewelry shops.
l.
447 - Motor fuel stations.
m.
51 - Offices (Ord. No. 4-5-88, § I).
n.
237310 - Parking lots.
o.
236220 - Parking garages.
p.
71 - Places of amusement and entertainment.
q.
323 - Printing and engraving establishments.
r.
92 - Public buildings.
s.
236220, 452910, 45113, 481219, 488119, 523910, 561599, 711211, 71394, 71399, 72131, 81341 - Public or private clubs.
t.
Residential purposes as specified below:
1.
236115 - Single and two-family residences with R-2 densities (construction or expansion must be approved by Building Inspector).
2.
236116 - Multifamily residences.
u.
44, 45 - Retail businesses.
v.
N/A - Signs - as specified in Chapter 2, Section Z-216.
w.
42 - Wholesale businesses.
x.
45439 - Temporary long-term sale as defined in Chapter 2, Section Z-219.
y.
Local Transportation Terminals.
2.
Space Requirements. (See chart at end of this Chapter.)
3.
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Unloading.
a.
Off-street parking. None required.
b.
Off-street loading and unloading. Buildings hereafter constructed, extended or converted to commercial use which have access to a public alley shall provide off-street facilities as required in Section Z-214 for the loading and unloading of merchandise and goods either within the building or adjacent to a public alley in such a manner so as not to obstruct freedom of traffic movement on the public alley.
(Ord. No. 11-17, 9-2011; Ord. No. 14-17, 10-2014; Ord. No. 22-19, 1-2023)
Sec. Z-404. - B-2E District—Central business expansion.
The purpose of the B-2E, Central Business Expansion District is to preserve the character and densities of this historically compact and linear area of the City. Located adjacent to and representing an extension of the traditional Central Business District, and thus its development standards, the West State Street corridor has a unique-to-the-area character. This character should be preserved in a manner that allows the existing development pattern to help establish the future design and density of the area.
1.
Permitted Uses.. [3]
a.
Single-Family Residential and Duplexes.
b.
Multi-family Residential.
c.
Artisan/Technical Production Facilities under ten thousand (10,000) square feet, limited to:
311 - Food Manufacturing, excluding:
3116 - Animal Slaughtering and Processing.
3117 - Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging.
312 - Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing, excluding:
3122 - Tobacco Manufacturing.
315 - Apparel Manufacturing.
316 - Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing, excluding:
3161 - Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing.
323 - Printing and Related Support Activities.
3322 - Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing.
3341 - Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing.
3342 - Communications Equipment Manufacturing.
3343 - Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing.
3371 - Household and Institutional Furniture and Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturing.
3372 - Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing.
3391 - Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing.
3399 - Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing.
d.
23 - Construction, limited to administrative offices, but not allowing for equipment or material storage exterior to the office building.
e.
44 - Retail Trade except for 447 - Gasoline Stations.
f.
451 - Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores.
g.
452 - General Merchandise Stores, except for Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters.
h.
453 - Miscellaneous Store Retailers except for 45393 Manufactured Home Dealers.
i.
454 - Nonstore Retailer, except for Direct selling Establishments.
j.
48-49 - Transportation and Warehousing, limited to:
4853 - Taxi and Limousine Service.
k.
51 - Information, except for 512132 - Drive-in Motion Picture Theaters.
l.
52 - Finance and Insurance.
m.
53 - Real Estate and Rental Leasing, limited to:
531 - Real Estate, not to include 53113 Lessors of Miniwarehouses and self-storage units.
532 - Rental and Leasing, limited to:
5321 - Automobile Equipment Rental & Leasing.
5322 - Consumer Goods Rental.
5323 - General Rental Centers, but not allowing for equipment or material storage exterior to the building.
5324 - Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing, limited to:
53242 - Office Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing.
533 - Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (Except Copyrighted Works).
n.
54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
o.
55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises.
p.
561 - Administrative and Support Services, except for:
5612 - Facilities Support Services.
56142 - Telephone Call Centers, with more than fifty (50) employees.
q.
61 - Educational Services.
r.
62 - Health Care and Social Service Assistance, limited to:
6211 - Offices of Physicians.
6212 - Offices of Dentists.
6213 - Offices of Other Health Practitioners.
6215 - Medical and Diagnostic Lab.
6216 - Home Health Care Services.
6219 - Ambulatory Health Care Services.
6241 - Individual and Family Services, limited to:
62411 - Child and Youth Services.
62412 - Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities.
6243 - Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
6244 - Child Day Care Services.
s.
71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, including:
711 - Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries, except for:
7112 - Spectator Sports.
71131 - Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities.
712 - Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions, except for outdoor animal exhibits.
713212 - Amusement Arcades.
7139 - Other Amusements, limited to:
71394 - Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers.
71395 - Bowling Centers.
71399 - All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries, limited to indoor facilities, except for shooting galleries, shooting ranges, and nudist camps.
t.
72 - Accommodation and Food Services, except for 7212 - RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational camps, and 7213 - Rooming and Boarding Houses.
u.
81 - Other Services (except Public Administration), limited to:
811 - Repair and Maintenance, except for 8113 - Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except for Automotive and Electronic).
812 - Personal and Laundry Services, limited to:
8121 - Personal Care Services.
8122 - Death Care Services, except for 81222 - Cemeteries & Crematories.
8123 - Dry-cleaning and Laundry Services.
8129 - Other Personal Services.
813 - Religious, Grant making, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations.
v.
92 - Public Administration, except for:
92214 - Correctional Institutions.
92215 - Parole Offices and Probation Offices.
92811 - National Security.
w.
Other uses not otherwise listed above but determined to be consistent with the permitted NAICS categories of uses.
2.
Uses Allowed Under Special Use Permit.
a.
Artisan/Technical Production facilities over ten thousand (10,000) square feet.
b.
7112 - Spectator Sports.
c.
71131 - Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities.
3.
Exterior Building Façade. (See B-2E Overlay information at end of the Chapter.)
4.
Space Requirements. (See chart at end of the Chapter.)
5.
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Unloading.
a.
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 2, Section Z-213 and Z-214 of this Ordinance.
b.
Off-street loading and unloading. Buildings hereafter constructed, extended or converted to commercial use which have access to a public alley shall provide off-street facilities as required in Section Z-214 for the loading and unloading of merchandise and goods either within the building or adjacent to a public alley in such a manner so as not to obstruct freedom of traffic movement on the public alley.
(Ord. No. 17-6, 1-2018; Ord. No. 19-9, 10-2019)
Note— Permitted use section terminology reference is the 2017 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
Sec. Z-405. - B-3 District—General business zone.
This district will accommodate a variety of commercial uses and is specifically designed for uses that do not require a central location that are not suitable for the B-1A and B-1B districts. This zone requires more open space than does the Central Business District (B-2) and is the zone appropriate for arterial and shopping center developments.
1.
Permitted Uses.
a.
54194 - Animal clinics or animal hospitals with no outside kennels.
b.
481, 8111 - Auto sales and repair, except car washes.
c.
3118 - Bakeries.
d.
52 - Banks.
e.
8121 - Barber shops and Beauty Shops.
f.
3125 - Bottling works.
g.
54, 55, 561 - Businesses and professional offices.
h.
813110, 236220 - Churches.
i.
6215 - Clinical laboratories.
j.
44512 - Convenience stores.
k.
624- Day care centers.
l.
512132 - Drive-in theaters.
m.
8123 - Dry cleaning and laundry establishments.
n.
8122 - Funeral homes.
o.
72 - Hotels and motels.
p.
5121 - Indoor theaters.
q.
31, 32, 33, 42, 44, 45 - Manufacture of articles to be sold at retail on premises, provided such manufacturing is incidental to the retail business and employs not more than five operators.
r.
447 - Motor fuel stations.
s.
62, Offices for certified, registered or licensed health care professionals.
623110 - Nursing Home, limited to eighty-eight (88) beds per acre.
t.
327, 333 - Optical goods manufacture.
u.
237310 - Parking lots.
v.
236220 - Parking garages.
w.
71 - Places of amusement and entertainment.
x.
323 - Printing and engraving establishments.
y.
92 - Public buildings.
z.
236220, 452910, 45113, 481219, 488119, 523910, 561599, 711211, 71394, 71399, 72131, 81341 - Public or private clubs.
aa.
Residential purposes as specified below:
1.
236115 - Single and two-family residences.
2.
236116 - Multifamily residences.
bb.
44-45 - Retail businesses.
cc.
N/A - Signs - see Chapter 2, Section Z-216.
dd.
4853 - Taxi stands.
ee.
454390 - Temporary long term sales as defined in Chapter 2, Section Z-219.
ff.
45113 - Upholstery shops.
gg.
44112 - Used car lots.
hh.
42 - Wholesale businesses, not to include warehouses that are separate from the offices of that business.
ii.
Other uses of the same general character which are compatible with the district such as those listed above deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission by Special Use Permit.
2.
Uses Allowed Under Special Use Permit.
a.
811211 - Electronic assembly operations.
b.
622, except 622210 - Hospitals.
c.
7139 - Private golf, swimming and tennis clubs.
d.
61 - Schools.
e.
71399 - Adult Entertainment Establishments.
f.
6233 - Assisted Living Facilities, limited to the R-3 density.
g.
81291 - Animal Day Care Facilities under the following conditions:
1.
A site plan for construction or a site plan for change of use must be reviewed by Community Development staff and approved by the Bristol Tennessee Regional Planning Commission.
2.
A ten (10) foot landscape buffer must be maintained around the perimeter of the site when adjacent to commercial uses and twenty-five (25) feet when adjacent to residential zones or uses.
3.
Outdoor exercise/recreation shall not be visible from the street.
4.
The setback for all accessory structures associated with animal day care facilities shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet in addition to the setback required by the zone of adjacent parcels. In no instance shall the setback be less than twenty-five (25) feet.
5.
The granting of a special use permit for an animal day care facility shall not exempt the permit holder from compliance with all applicable provisions of Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances.
h.
71 - Recreational Developments.
i.
Indoor Storage Facility. No commercial business is to be operated from individual storage units.
3.
Space Requirements. (See chart at end of this Chapter.)
4.
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Unloading. Shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 2, Section Z-213 and Z-214 of this Ordinance.
(Ord. No. 11-17, 9-2011; Ord. No. 22-3, 5-2022; Ord. No. 22-12, 8-2022; Ord. No. 22-14, 11-2022; Ord. No. 22-19, 1-2023; Ord. No. 23-8, 7-2023)
Sec. Z-406. - Space requirements for business zones.
(Ord. No. 14-17, 10-2014; Ord. No. 17-6, 1-2018; Ord. No. 21-1, 3-2021; Ord. No. 22-17, 12-2022; Ord. No. 25-10, § D(Exh. B), 5-2-2025)
Sec. Z-407. - Planned business district.
The regulations established in this section are intended to provide optional methods of land development that encourage imaginative solutions to environmental design problems. The goal is a development plan in which buildings, land use, transportation facilities, utility systems and open spaces are integrated through overall design. The Planned Business District permits the placement of buildings on land without adherence to the conventional lot-by-lot approach common to traditional zoning based on an approved development plan. By planning the total parcel rather than the single lot, flexibility is provided in the building site by the grouping of units to create more useable open space for the preservation of significant natural features.
A.
General Provisions. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to grant the Site Plan approval in this Planned Business District with the recommendations of the Department of Community Development. Additionally the Planning Commission shall have the authority to require design changes when it is determined that the changes are necessary to reduce the impact to adjacent residential areas, to increase traffic safety, and to improve the functionality of design. Design changes may require the addition of inter-connections between adjacent access ways or parking areas and the attachment of common access easement agreements.
1.
The Planning Commission may attach such conditions on the site plan approval as are necessary to insure the continuous conformance to all applicable standards.
2.
The Planning Commission may require additional buffering, modifications in the location of parking areas, lighting plans, entrances or access points, or cross-access designs when determined necessary to protect existing residential areas, improve traffic circulation and/or safety.
B.
Development Review Procedures.
1.
Site Plan Submittal Requirements. All site plans submitted for developments within a Planned Business District shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 10, Site Plan and Erosion Control Requirements.
The Planning Commission may review a preliminary concept plan for proposals requesting review of a development concept prior to the submission of a site plan compliant with Chapter 10 as provided above.
2.
Plan Review Procedures.
a.
All proposed development plans within the Planned Business District shall be submitted to city for review and shall be presented to the Planning Commission for approval. If the development plan is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval shall be stated to the applicant. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be final.
b.
Development in Stages. A Planned Business District applicant may elect to develop the site in successive stages. The stages and expected development periods shall be shown on the comprehensive development plan.
c.
Changes in the Plan. Any changes to the approved comprehensive development plan shall be resubmitted to and approved by the Planning Commission.
C.
Uses Permitted. Any use otherwise permitted within any of the B-1A, B-1B, B-2, and B-3 Business Districts. The Planning Commission may, upon review, permit uses not currently listed in the B-1A, B-1B, B-2, and B-3 Business Districts but considered similar in character with uses permitted in the Business District, including Uses Allowed Under Special Use Permit.
D.
District Regulations.
1.
Minimum Lot Area.
a.
There is no minimum lot area required provided the provisions of the Planned Business District are complied with.
2.
Minimum Setback Requirements
a.
The setback requirements of the Planned Business District shall be the same as the B-3 District except as provided herein.
1.
A required twenty-five (25) foot peripheral boundary shall be required on any property line adjacent to any residentially zoned or residentially utilized property. This peripheral boundary shall be restricted in use for required buffers or landscape areas. The peripheral boundary may contain walkways and driveways for ingress and egress directly to the premises, and for rights of way for utilities and drainage channels, and shall be developed and maintained as landscape area or buffer area as required by these regulations.
2.
In order to allow flexibility in design, internal to the planned development, there shall be no requirement for a front, rear, or side yard. However, all exterior boundaries to the development shall comply with the B-3 setbacks set forth in Chart 405 - Space Requirements for Business Zones. The Planning Commission may require the comprehensive development plan to show additional front, rear and side yards in order to protect the public health, welfare, and safety.
3.
Principle and accessory buildings shall not encroach into any required landscaping and buffer area required on any exterior boundary.
3.
Compliance with Subdivision Regulations. All planned development where buildings or lots may be offered for immediate or future sale, shall meet the requirements of the Subdivision Regulations.
4.
Height Regulations. Building height regulations shall be the same as provided in the B-3 District regulations.
5.
Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements. Off-street parking and loading requirements shall comply with Section Z-213 - Off Street Automobile Parking.
6.
Comprehensive Development Plan. A comprehensive development plan in the Planned Business District shall be approved by the Planning Commission prior to the issuance of a building permit. The comprehensive development plan shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 10 and shall include:
a.
A landscaping plan compliant with Chapter 11 of these regulations, including site grading, landscaping design, types of plantings, and height. Landscaping shall meet the provisions of Section Z-1109, Commercial Standards. The landscaping plan shall also provide for buffering as set forth in Section Z-1112, provided, however, the Planning Commission may require additional plantings and/or fencing determined to be necessary to fulfill specific buffering needs specific to the property being developed.
The Planning Commission shall have the authority to approve design changes to allow shared or common landscaping or buffering between adjacent uses, and to deem the buffering requirements satisfied when the topography of the subject or adjoining property provides the natural buffering or otherwise makes landscaping and buffering requirements nonfunctional.
b.
Proposed construction sequence for buildings, landscaping and other uses.
c.
Proposed building elevations, materials and dimensions.
d.
Lighting Requirements. All exterior lighting shall conform to Section 50-30, Outdoor Lighting, of the Code of Ordinances.
7.
Floodplain/Floodway. All developments within the Planned Business District shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 7, Flood Plain Districts.